Do We Still Need Affirmative Action?

• “Affirmative ...”

  

  “Only Kind of “Affirmative Action” at Issue is Racial Discrimination”

• No Objections Yet

Only Kind of “Affirmative Action” at Issue is Racial Discrimination

Center for Equal Opportunity

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We must begin by defining what we mean by “affirmative action,” since it includes a variety of policies. Many of these policies are not controversial, as a matter of law or policy. For instance, the term originally meant taking positive steps, proactive measures--affirmative action, get it?--to end discrimination. No one opposes that today.  It can also mean “casting a wide net”--that is, recruiting far and wide to make sure that you are hiring the best qualified person possible. That’s fine, too.

But if race or ethnicity is considered as a factor in making an admissions, hiring or promotion, or contracting decision, then we have to acknowledge that discrimination is taking place. We can’t dodge this fact by saying that rigid quotas aren’t being used, or that all those selected meet some minimum set of qualifications, or that race is just one factor, or that alumni or athletes are also given preferences. Finally, we must acknowledge that the degree of preference given is often huge; race is not just a tiebreaker.

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"Affirmative Action is Divisive" Center for Equal Opportunity

• Only Kind of “Affirmative Action” at Issue is Racial Discrimination
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• The Only Issue is Whether the Benefits Outweigh the Costs
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• The Two Claimed Benefits of Affirmative Discrimination Not Persuasive
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• There Are Many Undeniable Costs to the Use of Racial Preferences
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• Envision the Society We Want/Ask if Preferences Will Help Us Get There
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"We Need Affirmative Action" AAAA

• Affirmative Action is Necessary
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• Diversity is a Compelling State Interest
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• Discrimination Continues to Exist
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• To End Racism We Must Take Account of Race
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• Eliminating Race Does Not Benefit Whites
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• Opponents Mis-Characterize Affirmative Action
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• Dr. Martin Luther King Would Have Supported Affirmative Action
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• The Changing Demographics Call for Affirmative Action
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"We Have To Think for Ourselves" Brandon Brice

• The Equal Opportunity Act Was Not About “Quotas”
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• The Bigger Picture of What’s Wrong With Black America
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• Lack of Preparation
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"Definitely" BAMN

• As Long as Racism and Sexism Exist, Affirmative Action is Still Needed
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• GPA and Standardized Test Scores are NOT Neutral Measures of Merit
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• Racism is the Cause of the "Badge of Inferiority"
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• Banning Affirmative Action Resegregates Higher Education
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• How to Keep Our Nation on the Path to Equality
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"Moving Beyond Race and Gender" Jennifer Gratz

• Equal Opportunity for All
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• The Constitutionality of Affirmative Action
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• Our National Tragedy
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Most Objections

Ban Affirmative Action?

• Yes
• No

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